Official Luthiers Forum!

Odd maybe, but 'graft' always sounds like a repair to me - perhaps subconciously why I've decided to use neither back strip nor tail wedge. I'm striving to reach the point where I'd be happy to emphasise the joint by inlaying a line of purfling to either side of it on back and tail. Think I'm getting there - will see with the three in progress at the mo.

Cheers
Steve

Thanks Howard, I do sometimes wish descriptions were more standardized. I like yours, and I understand what you are referring to.

Thanks

Mike

[QUOTE=Todd Rose]
We do have a little anatomy problem, though, calling the base of the neck the "heel". What else to call it, though, I don't know.[/QUOTE]

Since the base of the neck is generally near the middle of the guitar, why not call it the waist? Oh... yeah...

I like the idea of sticking straight to anatomy for naming things, however, if we are "luthiers" and not just guitar builders, how does that apply to a lute, violin, mandolin, bass, hurdy gurdy or harp? Stringed instruments take all shapes.

Perhaps we should number all the parts, make it like a social security number sort of thing. It could be very efficient in conversation if you want to discuss how part number 21N must be made bigger if 14f isn't fitting properly into part 13a/c. Infact, perhaps a change in the angle of part 8* could fix it all without having to deal with the fallout in parts 10-12, a-d if said changes were to be made. Best to just make 14f fit right in the first place, i suppose.

See? I could get into a conversation like that!

to answser the question though... I do it weird with the mandolin. similar to Siminoff's book, I get the top on the rims, then fit and attach the neck with either a modified dovetail/mortise-tennon or dovetail joint. Then I put the back on. A little different from guitars, but an option I suppose, if that is what you are looking for.

Good luck.

[QUOTE=Howard Klepper] They don't need to care because the guitars are built by workers who only read 1's and 0's.

[/QUOTE]

_________________
Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

[QUOTE=Howard Klepper]

<snip>
I never use "back graft." Sounds like taking payments secretly in order to jump someone ahead on the building list. [/QUOTE]

Or...a requirement to win a government contract.

I route my neck pocket mortises after the body is assembled, with a homemade jig that allows me to center on the top seam for alignment. I then have a jig that inserts into the mortise and has two drill guide bushings to locate the bolt holes for drilling.

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Hank Mauel